Gulfport Energy Fund Awards Over $45,000 to Area Nonprofits Working in Health & Human Services and Environmental Stewardship
Gulfport Energy Fund Announces Twelve Grant Recipients for Second Grant Round of 2019
Nelsonville, OH – Twelve organizations serving Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, and Noble counties will have greater support for their projects because of more than $45,000 awarded from the Gulfport Energy Fund at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO). The Fund’s final grant round of 2019 focused on projects from nonprofit and public organizations related to health and human services as well as environmental stewardship.
“We are thrilled to support such a large and diverse group of grantees, all of which are doing so much within the counties where Gulfport operates. These organizations connect the local communities to the environmental and health needs that exist within the area,” said Courtney Dickens, Gulfport’s External Relations Coordinator.
The Gulfport Energy Fund at FAO was created to support nonprofits, schools, and communities through projects that increase quality of life, create access to opportunities, or identify and implement a solution for a community need in the counties where Gulfport Energy operates.
Second round grantees in 2019 include:
The Cambridge YMCA received a $10,000 grant to support its Invest in Youth campaign, which serves Guernsey, Harrison, and Noble counties by providing scholarships for students to participate in safe, productive activities such as soccer, basketball, and swimming. The program will connect hundreds of young people with opportunities to follow their passion.
The Bellaire Volunteer Fire Department received a $9,845.22 grant to connect volunteer firefighters with training to become instructors in the areas of basic first aid, wilderness first aid, CPR and automatic electronic defibrillators (AED) use, child and babysitting safety, basic life support for healthcare providers and professional rescuers, and blood-borne pathogens. This will allow the department to offer low-cost trainings in these areas to the community and surrounding area. The grant also allows the department to purchase three additional AED units to improve community safety and the department’s ability to respond to emergencies.
CHANGE Inc. received a $5,000 grant to purchase the supplies needed to offer quality and affordable mental health services to the youth of Jefferson County through the two school-based health clinics the organization has been working to open in partnership with the Steubenville City School District. The grant will support the clinics in increasing access to quality medical care by removing transportation and employment-related barriers while improving staff and student attendance at school.
The Belmont Soil and Water Conservation District received a $4,500 grant to support volunteers in monitoring water quality and biodiversity in the Captina Creek Watershed, which spans Belmont and Monroe counties. Funds will be used to purchase equipment necessary to perform assessments and better prioritize conservation and remediation projects within the watershed.
The Puskarich Public Library in Harrison County received a $4,438.05 grant to launch Borrow a Bike, which will help county residents embrace health and exercise by allowing library patrons to check out bikes free of charge with their library card. The grant will support the purchase of bikes, tools for repairs, staff training, and a one-year maintenance contract with a local bike shop.
Cumberland Trail Fire District #4, which serves Belmont County, was awarded a $3,569.97 grant to purchase two gas detectors that the fire department uses to respond to carbon monoxide and hazardous material incidents. By replacing out of date gas detectors, this grant will assist the fire department in its efforts to keep Belmont County residents safe.
Ohio Hills Health Services was awarded a $2,064.76 grant to support a behavioral health program in Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Monroe, and Noble counties. The grant supports materials for play therapy, a type of therapy that allows children suffering from trauma to talk, do activities, practice new skills and solve problems as a means of responding to a wide variety of mental health issues. Materials purchased through the grant include art supplies, such as paints and clay, and interactive tools, such as puppets and dolls.
The Noble County Health Department received a $2,000 grant to support Red Ribbon Week activities. Red Ribbon Week events will take place at local elementary and high schools as a means of encouraging youth to lead drug and alcohol free lives.
The American Red Cross of Southeast Ohio received a $1,500 grant to purchase smoke alarms for families in Belmont, Guernsey, Monroe, and Noble counties. Volunteers with the organization go door-to-door to meet with families, install free smoke alarms, replace smoke alarm batteries, complete fire safety checklists, and develop escape plans to make households safer in southeast Ohio.
The Ohio Valley Health Center received a $1,373.61 grant to purchase an on-site urine analysis machine for its free clinic, allowing uninsured patients in Jefferson and Harrison counties to receive a level of care to which they would not otherwise have access.
Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry was awarded a $750 grant for its “Meating the Need: Venison for the Food Challenged” program, serving Guernsey, Harrison, and Noble counties. The program encourages the harvesting of deer to control the deer population by allowing hunters to donate the deer, which are processed free of charge to provide needed protein for those without regular access to food in partnership with local food banks and pantries.
The Village of Yorkville was awarded a $600 grant to add an ADA approved sidewalk and ramp to the village’s gazebo. The grant will allow people with disabilities to enjoy the gazebo and attend community events that take place there.
The Gulfport Energy Fund will open its first grant round of 2020 in the spring. The first round of 2020 will support education projects. Please sign up for the Foundation’s e-newsletter on FAO’s website, www.AppalachianOhio.org, for the latest news on when grant opportunities become available.
For more information about the Gulfport Energy Fund and past grant recipients, please visit www.AppalachianOhio.org or call 740.753.1111.
About Gulfport Energy
Gulfport Energy Corporation is an Oklahoma City-based independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company with its principal producing properties located in the Utica Shale of Eastern Ohio and along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. In addition, Gulfport holds a sizeable acreage position in the Alberta Oil Sands in Canada through its 25% interest in Grizzly Oil Sands ULC.
About the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio
The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) is a regional community foundation serving the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio. A 501(c)(3) public charity, the Foundation creates opportunities for Appalachian Ohio’s citizens and communities by inspiring and supporting philanthropy. For more information about FAO, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org.
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